The Weakness Is the Point
Trump is still following Mao.
Since I made my initial comparison of Trump to Mao, Trump has won, and so far he has lived down to my expectations. He has continued his promise to release his gang members, and is now moving towards his plans to politicize the government per Project 2025, even nominating some of its’ authors to his administration. Despite all claims to the contrary it is apparent that was the plan all along.
But more than anything else he has confirmed his similarity, through his appointments outside Project 2025. Gaetz, Hesgseth, Kennedy, Rubio, and Gabbard share two important characteristics. First, none of them is qualified for their position. Second, all are more loyal to Trump than to anything else including the Constitution. Indeed three of them have been credibly accused of sexual crimes and at least one is likely facing dismissal and lawsuits without Trump’s help.
Mao liked weak people too. Indeed he established a clear pattern of picking people who were incapable of high office without him, and likely more loyal than prepared. This concept was covered in detail by Victor C. Shih in his book “Coalitions of the Weak”. Picking weak people means knowing that no-one dare challenge you. It makes them “My Generals” not the nation’s generals, and it is a perfect recipe for keeping yourself on top since they have no choice but to hold you up, lest they lose everything.
Yes Gaetz, Gabbard, Vance and the other followers do have things they want, beyond their own careers, but all of that will always be secondary to pleasing the man who holds them up. They will truckle to him, even as he truckles to Musk. Because his weakness is theirs too.